Five Coaches In Line To Take Over Jason Taylor At Wests Tigers

Who will fill the void?

Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has been sacked by the NRL club, effective immediately, with assistant Andrew Webster to serve as interim coach.

However, who will coach the troubled club next year?

These are five candidates available who could build a side that would be in a position to win NRL premierships, with Todd Payten and former Penrith and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary shaping as favourites to take over. Listen to the audio and see the full list below.

Todd Payten

The club's "big four" of skipper Aaron Woods, James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks are reportedly keen to play under North Queensland assistant coach Todd Payten, who mentored them during his time as the Tigers' under 20s coach.

All four are off contract and the club is fighting to retain their biggest stars in the face of poaching raids from rival clubs.

The problem is Payten shares the same manager as the "big four". If they appoint Todd Payten as coach they may as well appoint [manager] Isaac Moses as chairman of the club," said Danny Weider, on Triple M Grill Team.

Ivan Cleary

Ivan Cleary would be a good fit.

He is a long term coach with plenty of NRL experience who enjoys the challenge of rebuilding clubs from the ground up and helping teams back on their feet.

He took the Warriors to a Grand Final in 2011 and Penrith to the NRL finals.

He was sacked by the Panthers following a poor season which saw the Panthers finish 11th on the NRL ladder.

Ivan Cleary Photo: Getty Images

Des Hasler

If the Wests Tigers are fair dinkum Des Hasler is the first coach they should call.

Doubt remains about Hasler's long-term prospects at the club, particularly if the Bulldogs fail to fire this season.

"A coach like Hasler can build a club from the ground up, create a new culture and reinvigorate the entire club. Channel Nine's Danny Weidler told Triple M Grill Team.

He’s a premiership-winning coach, having won two Grand Finals with Manly in 2008 and 2011.

He also took Canterbury to two grand finals in 2012 and 2014 and has never missed the top eight.

Des Hasler Photo: Getty Images

Geoff Toovey

This is just speculation but you could do a lot worse.

'Tooves' is a rugby league man.

The former Manly Sea Eagles coach would bring plenty of passion and mongrel to the club.

Ex-Manly coach Graham Lowe once described him as "uncompromising coach" and young players thrive under his coaching style.

"Don't expect any politics, he's a football man. He's a players' coach," he said.

Geoff Toovey (left) Photo: Getty Images

Andrew Webster

Interim coach Andrew Webster will take over from Jason Taylor as an interim coach.

If he can turn this side around, he’ll be in with a big shot of formally taking over the reins next season.

Webster returned to Wests Tigers this year after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at the Warriors and also Parramatta.

In 2012 as Head Coach of Balmain SG’s Ball (U/18) side he guided the team, featuring current Wests Tigers players Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, to an undefeated minor premiership and eventual Grand Final win.

Andrew Webster (right) Photo: Getty Images

Honourable mention

Robbie Farah

He’s a legend of the club who bleeds black & gold. And he's always fancied himself as a bit of a coach, so we’re thinking he’d love nothing better than take over!